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Bioresorbable Polymer Tubing

What are bioresorbable polymers?

Bioresorbable polymers are a class of materials frequently used for temporary implant applications. These materials degrade over time through hydrolysis. The products from hydrolysis, lactic acid and glycolic acid, are each further broken down and eliminated through normal metabolism of the human body.

Why would you choose bioresorbable plastics?

Bioresorbable polymers have benefits to certain medical applications. The polymers can be adjusted to degrade at a specified rate, useful in cases where the body needs temporary support while it heals tissues. Children can outgrow medical devices, thus requiring an additional surgery to remove them, but a bioresorbable will breakdown and be safely absorbed by the body.

What are bioresorbable polymers generally made of?

The common forms of bioresorbable polymers used are

polylactide (PLA),

poly-L-lactide (PLLA),

poly-DL-lactide (PDLLA),

polyglycolide (PGA) and

copolymers of PLA and PGA (PGLA).

In general, amorphous polymers such as PDLLA and PGLA degrade more quickly than semi-crystalline polymers such as PLLA and PGA. Hydrophilic polymers, such as PGA, also tend to degrade faster than do hydrophobic polymers like PLA.

What other services or options are offered with bioresorbable tubing?

Bioresorbable materials can be incorporated into a variety of Putnam extrusion technologies. It could potentially be used in a single lumen tube or as an inner layer, outer layer, or lumen liner in a more complex structure.

Why is Putnam the best choice for bioresorbable polymer tubing?

Putnam’s in-house design and manufacturing facility provides rapid order turnaround. We can help you control costs and get optimal results by leveraging our decades of experience as a pioneer in plastics tubing science.